English Tenses Timeline Chart
This timeline tenses chart provides a handy reference sheet to English tenses and their relationship to one another and the past, present and future. Conjugated verbs are highlighted in bold. Tenses which are rarely used in everyday conversation are marked by an asterik (*).|
| TIMELINE |
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|
|
|
SIMPLE ACTIVE
|
SIMPLE PASSIVE
|
|
PROGRESSIVE /
CONTINUOUS ACTIVE
|
PROGRESSIVE /
CONTINUOUS PASSIVE
|
|
|
|
PAST TIME
^ | | | | |
|
|
|
She had
already eaten when I arrived.
|
The painting had
been sold twice before it was destroyed.
|
^ | PAST PERFECT | | |
I had been
waiting for four hours when he finally arrived.
|
The house had
been being painted for over a month before they began to decorate the
interior. *
|
|
I bought a
new car last week.
|
The book was
written in 1876 by Frank Smith.
|
^ | PAST | | |
I was watching
TV when she arrived.
|
The problem was
being solved when I arrived late for class.
|
|
She has lived
in California for many years.
|
The company has
been managed by Fred Jones for the last two years.
|
^ | PRESENT PERFECT | | |
She has been
working at Johnson's for six months.
|
The students have
been being taught for the last four hours. *
|
|
He works
five days a week.
|
Those shoes are
made in Italy.
|
^ | PRESENT | | |
I am working
at the moment.
|
The work is
being done by Jim.
|
|
|
|
| FUTURE INTENTION | | V |
They are going
to fly to New York tomorrow.
|
The reports are
going to be completed by the marketing department.
|
|
The sun will
shine tomorrow.
|
The food will
be brought later.
|
| FUTURE SIMPLE | | V |
She will be
teaching tomorrow at six o'clock.
|
The rolls will
be being baked at two. *
|
|
I will have
completed the course by the end of next week.
|
The project will
have been finished by tomorrow afternoon.
|
| FUTURE PERFECT | | V |
She will have
been working here for two years by the end of next month.
|
The house will
have been being built for six months by the time they finish. *
|
|
|
|
FUTURE TIME
| |
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